Locking mechanism



Sept. 28, Y J, ROETHEL 2,450,357

LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q) l I INVENTOR.

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Sept. 28, 1948. J. H. ROETHEL LOCKING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 25, 1945 Md @Mm Z M, We Q1 7 Z Patented Sept. 2 8, 1948 4 2,450,351LOCKING MECHANISM,

John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Roethel EngineeringCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationJanuary 25, 15345, Serial No. 574,575

This invention relates to locking mechanism for swinging lids, doors orother closures and particularly to mechanism useful in connection withthe so-called swinging deck lids of automobile bodies and constructedwith a locking device or devices operable by means of a single handlecontrol for simultaneously locking the lid or closure in closed positionat opposite side edges thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved locking mechanismfor a swinging lid, closure or the like having spaced devices forlocking the lid at opposite edges thereof and constructed and operablein improved manner to draw the lid tightly into closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism fora swinging lid or closure including a locking member pivoted to the lidor closure and having a portion movable into and out of engagement witha keeper member on the body, improved means being provided for actuatingthe locking device and preferably constructed in improved manner so asto be tamper-proof.

More specifically an object of the invention is to provide a lockingdevice or devices pivoted to a swinging lid or closure and operative inimproved manner through the medium of parallel motion linkage controlledas by means of a single handle control.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pair of spacedlocking devices swingable into and out of locking position with respectto keeper portions on the body through the medium of parallel motionlinks connected at opposite ends to the devices and shiftable endwise inoppositedirections to simultaneously actuate the de vices, theconstruction being such that during the simultaneous endwise movement ofthe links to swing the locking devices one link or the other is placedin tension, thus obviating the possibility of the opposite link when incompression from buckling or bending and hence impairing the emciency ofthe mechanism.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of anautomobile body illustrating a swinging deck lid adapted to be locked bymeans of locking mechanism constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken substan- 19 Claims. (Cl. 292-26) 2tially through lines 2-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially through lines3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section taken substantially fromlines 4-4 of Fig. 3 looklog in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, one embodimentof the invention as applied to the swinging deck lid or closure B of anautomobile body A, the deck lid providing access to a compartment withinthe rear end of the body and being hinged in any conventional manner tothe upper edge of the deck lid opening. As illustrated in Fig. 3 thedeck lid B comprises outer and inner spaced pressed metal panels III andII brought together around the margin of the deck lid and rigidlysecured, as by spot welding, to provide a projecting marginal overlapflange l2 extending around all four sides of the lid. When the deck lidis closed to overlap flange 12 engages a resilient rubber sealing stripI3 confined 'within a channel 14 formed in the body and extendingcontinuously around all four sides of the deck lid opening.

The locking mechanism carried by the swinging deck lid is housed withinthe spacebetween the outer and inner panels l0 and II and comprises leftand right-hand units, as viewed in the drawings, disposed adjacentopposite side edges of the deck lid.

The lefthand locking unit, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises amounting plate I5 secured by means of screws Hi to the inner side of thepanel ll adjacent the lower edge of the deck lid. A swinging lockingdevice or dog I1 is pivoted to the plate l5 through the medium of ashoulder rivet I8 and has a portion I9 thereof projecting laterallythrough a slot Ila in the panel II. The outer end of the portion i9 isformed with a return bent locking flange I9a having its terminal edge19b arcuate in shape with its center of curvature substantially at thepivotal axis of the locking dog formed by the pivot l8. One edge 20 ofthe locking dog is formed so as to engage a stop flange 2| on themounting plate l5 when the dog is swung into its unlocking position asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thus providing a limit to which the dogmay be swung when unlocking the deck lid. I

The righthand locking unit shown in Fig. 2 is constructed insubstantially the same manner as the lefthand locking unit with theexception that the various correspondin parts are reversed. Asillustrated in Fig. 2, the righthand locking unit comprises a mountingplate 22 identical to the plate l5 but reversed and secured to therighthand edge of the inner door panel ll near the lower end thereof bymeans of screws 23. A locking dog or element 24 is pivoted on themounting plate 22 through the medium of a shoulder rivet 25, this doghaving a portion 26 projecting through a slot similar to slot Ha in theinner door panel H and terminatin in a return bent locking flange 26asimilar to the locking flange I9a. The construction of the locking dogor element 24 is identical to the locking dog l1, being mounted,however, reversely to the dog IT. The locking dog 24 in like manner hasa straight edge 26b adapted to engage a stop flange 21 on the mountingplate 22 so as to limit the swinging movement of the locking dog intounlocking position. From the foregoing it will be seen that thereversely positioned locking dogs or members l1 and 24 swing oneoppositely to the other when moved into locking and unlocking positions.

The locking dogs or members I1 and 24 are actuated through the medium ofa set of parallel linkage. The upper link or bar 28 of the parallelmotion linkage has one end thereof pivoted at 29 to the upper side ofthe locking member I! and has its opposite end pivoted at 30 to theupper side of the locking member 24, The lower bar or link 3| of thelinkage extendsparallel to the link 28 and is of the same length. Thisbar 3| has one end pivoted at 32 to the lower side of the locking memberH and has its opposite end pivoted at 33 to the lower side of lockingmember 24. The distance between the pivots 29 and 32 corresponds to thedistance between the pivots 30 and 33 and, as a consequence, theparallel bars or links 28 and 3| form with the locking members I! and 24a true parallel motion linkage.

The parallel links or bars 28 and 3| are connected together preferablyat a central point between the locking dogs by means of an operating bar34 pivoted at its upper end at 35 to the link 28 and pivoted at itslower end at 36 to the link 3|. The operating bar 34 at a pointcentrally between the pivots 35 and 3B is provided with a square openingto receive the reduced square end 31a of a handle shaft 31 mounted toturn in an escutcheon member 38 secured to the outer panel l0. Anoperating handle 39 is fastened to the handle shaft 31 and may bemanually turned so as to rotate the shaft and hence, rotate theoperating member 34 between the positions shown in full lines and dottedlines in Fig. 2.

The projecting portion iii of the locking member or dog I! cooperateswith a fixed keeper member on the body in such manner as to draw thedeck lid tightly into closed position and also provide a tamper-proofconstruction when the deck lid is locked. The keeper member 40 is spotwelded to the inner side of the channel l4 and is formed with aninwardly directed flange 40a bent at 40b to provide a return bent flange40c spaced from the flange 40a, It will be noted that the flange 40a ofthe keeper member has a straight portion extending for a distanceparallel to the base of the channel I4 but spaced therefrom. A rearwardcontinuation 40d of the flange 40a curves inwardly toward the base ofthe channel l4, as seen in Fig. 4, so as to provide a'curved camsurface. The bend 40b of the keeper member, as shown in Fig. 2, isformed on a radius with the center of curvature substantially at theaxis of turning of the locking member I], the curvature of the bend 40bcorresponding substantially to the curvature of the edge IQ?) of thelocking flange l9a. The righthand keeper member 4|, as viewed in Fig. 2,is constructed in identical fashion as the keeper member 40 and as abovedescribed, the parts however being reversed to accommodate the reverseswinging movement of the locking dog 24 as compared with the locking dogIT.

The locking mechanism of the present embodiment preferably includesspring mechanism for yieldingly holding the locking members I! and 24 ineither their locked or unlocked positions. In the present instance aconnector piece 42 is pivoted at 43 to the end of the bar 28 adjacentthe pivot 29 the piece 42 being provided with a tongue 44 overlying andengaging the upper edge of the bar 28. A tension sprin 45 is connectedat one end to the piece 42 below the bar 28 and at its opposite end tothe mounting, plate I5 above the bar 3|. A similar construction isprovided for the locking unit at the righthand side of Fig. 2. In thisinstance, however, the connector piece 42 is pivoted to the lower bar 3|with the tension spring 45 interposed between the upper end of thispiece and the mounting plate 22. Both springs, however, function in thesame manner to yieldingly hold the two locking members l1 and 24 intheir full line and dotted line positions shown in Fig. 2. It will beunderstood that the springs 45 are placed under tension when inassembled condition so as to resist movement of.the associated lockingmember from its locked position to unlocked position, or vice versa.When the locking member I1 is moved from its full line position of Fig.2 to the dotted line position by endwise movement of the bar 28 to theleft, the sprin 45 will resist this movement until the pivot 29 haspassed beyond a vertical dead center line passing through the pivots 29,I8 and 32 and the spring has passed beyond a corresponding verticalposition. Thereupon, the spring will snap over and reverse its actiontending to pull the dog into the open position shown in dotted lines inFig. 2. Conversely, when the bar 28 is shifted to the right to swing thelocking dog I! into its locking position shown in full lines, the springwill resist this movement until the dead center position is reached andthereafter will again reverse its action and urge the dog into thelocking position, the spring finally assuming the position shown in Fig.2. A similar action of the sprin 45 occurs in the operation of thelocking dog or member 24.

When the handle is turned to rotate the operating member 34 from thedotted line position to the full line position of Fig. 2 in order tolock the deck lid, it will be seen that both of the locking dogs I! and24 are partially rotated or swung in the same direction, 1. e. in aclockwise direction as viewed from the position of the parts in Fig. 2.During this operation the locking flange l9a of the dog I! movesupwardly into the space between the flanges 40a and 400 of the keepermember 40 while the opposite locking flange 26a moves downwardly intothe space between the corresponding flanges of the keeper member 4|.During the movement of the locking dog I! into 24 the ink 3| exerts apull thereon and is in tension while the link 28 is in compression.Since the links are substantially the same length, it will be apparentthat neither the end of the link 3| connected to the dog l1 nor the endof the link 23 connected to the dog 24 can buckle or bend when the dogsare forced into locking positions due to the fact that the opposite endsof these links are in tension and exert an effective pulling eifort onthe dogs to swing them into locking positions. In like manner, there isno possibility of either link buckling or bending when the operatingmember 34 is rotated from the full line to the dotted line position ofFig. 2 to force the dogs out of locking positions.

As the locking flange l9a is shifted toward locking position between theflanges 40a and 400, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 4, it will engage theinclined cam surface 40d, thus forcing the locking flange inwardly untilit lines up with and enters the space between the keeper flanges 40a and40c. The coaction of the locking flange with the cam surface 400'. thusresults in drawing the deck lid inwardly and forcing the overlap flangel2 tightly against the rubber sealing strip I3. A similar wedging actionoccurs as the locking flange 25a at the opposite side of the deck lid isforced into locking engagement with the keeper member 4| which isconstructed in the same manner as the keeper member 40f Since in thelocked positions of the dogs l1 and 24 the locking flanges a and 26a areconfined and housed in the channel portions of the keeper members, itwill be seen that the locking mechanism at this time will be thoroughlytamper-proof since it will be impossible for an unauthorized person topry open the lid with a tool and force the locking dogs out of theirlocking positions. Although not illustrated in th drawings. it will beunderstood that suitable k y-controlled locking means of anyconventional kind is provided for locking the operating member 34 in theposition shown in Fig. 2 when the deck lid is closed and locked by meansof the dogs I! and 24.

Iclaim:

1. Locking mechanism for an up and down swinging lid or closure hingedto a body, comprising a pair of spaced locking members pivoted to thelid adjacent opposite sides thereof and having portions movable into andout of engagement with keeper members on the body, a pair of linkspivoted at corresponding ends at vertically spaced points to saidlocking members, and means for shifting said links endwise in unlson andsubstantially in parallelism to swing said locking members into and outof locking positions. y

2. Locking mechanism for an up and down swinging lid -or closure hingedto a body, comprising a pair of spaced locking members pivoted to thelid adjacent opposite sides thereof and having portions movable into andout of engagementiwith keeper members on the body. a pair of linkspivoted at corresponding ends at vertically spaced points to saidlocking members, and means for shifting said links endwise in unison andsubstantially in parallelism to swing said locking members one upwardlyand the other downwardly and vice versa into and out of lockingpositions.

3. Locking mechanism for an up and down swinging lid or closure hingedto a body, comprising a pair of spaced locking members pivoted to thelid adjecent opposite sides thereof and having portions movable into andout of engagement with keeper members on the body, a pair oi linkspivoted at corresponding ends at vertically spaced points to saidlocking members, and means for shifting said links endwise in unison andsubstantially in parallelism to swing said locking members in the sameclockwise or counter-clockwise direction and vice versa into and out oflocking positions.

4. Locking mechanism for an up .and down swinging lid or closure hingedto a body, comprising a pair of spaced locking members pivoted to thelid adjacent opposite sides thereof and having portions movable into andout of engagement with keeper members on the body, a pair of linkspivoted at corresponding ends at vertically spaced points to saidlocking members, and a rotatable operating member pivoted to said linksat a locality intermediate said locking members for swinging the same inthe same clockwise or counter-clockwise direction into and out oflocking positions.

5. Locking mechanism for an up and down swinging lid or closure hingedto a body, comprising a pair of spaced locking members pivoted to thelid adjacent opposite sides thereof and having portions movable into andout of engagement with keeper members on the body, a pair of linkspivoted at corresponding ends at vertically and substantially equallyspaced points to said locking members, and means for shifting said linksendwise in unison and substantially in parallelism to swing said lockingmembers into and out of locking positions.

6. Locking mechanism for an up and down swinging lid or closure hingedto a body, comprising a pair of spaced locking members pivoted to thelid adjacent opposite sides thereof and having portions movable into andout of engagement with keeper members on the body, a pair of linkspivoted at corresponding ends at vertically spaced points to saidlocking members, and means for shifting said links endwise in unison andsubstantially in parallelism to swing said locking members into and outof locking positions, each of said locking members terminating in areturn bent flange shiftable into interlocking relation to theassociated keeper member.

7. Locking mechanism for an up and down swinging lid or closure hingedto a body, comprising a pair of spaced locking members pivoted to thelid adjacent opposite sides thereof and having portions movable into andout of engagement with keeper members on the body, a pair of linkspivoted at. corresponding ends at vertically spaced points to saidlocking members, and means for shifting said links endwise in unison andsubstantially in parallelism to swing said locking members into and outof locking positions, each oi said locking members terminating in ahook-like portion adapted to interlock with the associated keepermember.

8. Locking mechanism for a lid or closure hinged to a body for up anddown swinging movement, comprising a pair of spaced locking memberspivoted at opposite sides of the lid to swing outwardly thereof and in avertical direction, pairs of endwise shiftable parallel motion linkspivoted to said members for swinging the same, and vertically extendingchannel portions on the body adapted to receive projecting portions onsaid locking members and having inclined cam 7 surfaces engaged by saidprojecting portions to draw the lid tightly against the body when thelocking members are swung into their locking positions.

9. Locking mechanism for a lid or closure hinged to a body for up anddown swinging movement, comprising a pair oi. spaced locking memberspivoted at opposite sides or the lid to swing outwardly thereof and in avertical direction, a

pair of substantially parallel links pivoted at corresponding ends atvertically and substantially equally spaced points to said lockingmembers, means for shifting said links endwise to swing the lockingmembers vertically in the same clockwise or counter-clockwise direction,and vertically spaced portions on the body engaged by said lockingmembers and cooperable therewith to draw the lid tightly against thebody.

10. In a locking mechanism for a swinging lid, a pair of spaced lockingmembers pivoted to the lid, a pair of substantially parallel linksextending from one locking member to the other and pivoted at verticallyspaced points to each locking member above and below the axis of turningof the member, a rotatable operating member pivoted to said linksintermediate the locking members, and a handle for turning saidoperating member to shift the links endwise in substantial parallelism,

11. Looking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivoted to the lid and'having a portionmovable into and out of engagement with a keeper member on the body, apair of links pivoted at corresponding ends at spaced points to saidlooking member, and means for shifting said links endwise in unison andsubstantially in parallelism to swing said locking member into and outof locking position.

12. Locking mechanism vfor a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivoted to the lid and having a portionmovable into and out of engagement with a keeper member on the body, apair or links pivoted at corresponding ends at spaced points to saidlooking member, and a rotatable operating member pivoted to said linksfor shitting said links endwise in unison and substantially inparallelism to swing said locking member into and out of lockingposition.

13. Locking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivoted to the lid and having a portionmovable into and out of engagement with a keeper portion on the body, apair of spaced links pivotally connected at their ends at spaced pointsto said locking member, and means for shifting said links endwise inunison and in opposite directions to rotate said locking member into andout of locking position.

14. Locking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivotally mounted on the lid and having aportion movable into and out of operative relation to a keeper portionon the body, a pair 01 linkspivotally connected at their ends at spacedpoints to said locking member, and means for shifting said links inunison and in opposite directions to impart pivotal motion to saidlocking member.

15. Locking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivotally mounted on the lid and having aportion movable into and out of operative relation to a keeper portionon the body, a pair of links pivotally connected at their ends at spacedpoints to said locking member, and means for shifting said links inunison and in opposite directions in substantial parallelism to impartpivotal motion to said locking member, said means including a manuallyoperable lever connected to both links.

16. Looking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivotally mounted on the lid and having aportion movable into and out of operative relation to a keeper portionon the body, a pair of links pivotally connected at their ends at spacedpoints to said locking member, and means for shifting said links inunison and in opposite directions in substantial parallelism to impartpivotal motion to said locking member, said locking member terminatingin a return bent flange shiftable into interlocking relation to thekeeper portion.

17. Looking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivotally mounted on the lid, a pair oflinks pivotally connected at corresponding ends at spaced points to saidlocking member, and means for shifting said links in opposite directionsand in unison to swing said locking member, said locking member and thebody having interlocking channel portions.

18. Locking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivotally mounted on the lid, a pair oflinks pivotally connected at corresponding ends at spaced points to saidlocking member, and means for shifting said links in opposite directionsand in unison to swing said locking member, said locking member and thebody having interfitting hook-like portions.

19. Locking mechanism for a swinging lid or closure hinged to a body,comprising a locking member pivotally mounted on the lid, a pair oflinks pivotally connected at corresponding ends at spaced points to saidlocking member, means pivotally connected to said links for shiftingsaid links in unison in opposite directions and substantially inparallelism to impart pivotal motion to the locking member, and springmeans for yieldingly holding the locking member in both locked andunlocked positions.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the filo ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

